Jesus, Name Above All Names

Those last three names – “Immanuel, God with us,” “Blessed Redeemer,” and “Living Word” – captured our attention as we thought about Christmas in India. What does “Immanuel, God with us” mean? What is God’s presence? We get so caught up in temporal, soon-to-be broken or discarded presents that we forget the ultimate gift is the eternal, unending presence of Immanuel!

Just as cold is the absence of heat and darkness is the absence of light, so evil is the absence of the presence of Christ – but the Enemy is being pushed back in every corner of India. Jesus’ presence and His love will warm and shine light into the families and villages of the more than 5 million new Indian believers who heard the Good News in the last 5 years through a Mission India program. Jesus will be “home for Christmas” in their families as they celebrate “Immanuel, God with us” this Christmas.

And we remember that high-caste Brahmin lady in Bombay who told us of the horrible fear of the gods that drove her to keep on sacrificing to them. “And then,” she said, “I found the blessed Redeemer God who gave the ultimate sacrifice for me: His only Son.” Tears of joy streamed down her face as she looked up to heaven in pure gratitude for the gift of a Redeemer, for the gift of the Living Word who through His death showed her God’s infinite love.

It’s not presents but Presence that our souls truly long for. It is the Presence of the Beautiful Savior, Glorious Lord, Immanuel God with us, Blessed Redeemer, and Living Word who brings light in darkness, warmth in cold, and dispels sin and death with forgiveness, purity, and eternal life. The gift of His Presence is the ultimate Christmas Present!